831 Comadres

Yes, we know we've been MIA, but like we always say, LIFE happens. We're starting our first 2023 episode with what we do best, and that's just comadreando. Las Comadres Frenchy & Sam share what's been going on in their lives and what exciting changes are to come. So kick back con una chela or cafecito and tune in.

Christie Cromeenes took over district 5 at an interesting time in Salinas' history. Now that her first term is coming to an end, she feels there is still more work to be done not only in district 5 but in all of Salinas. Listen as she tells us her Salinas story and plans for her district if she manages to keep her seat on the council.

Andrew Sandoval is a Salinas native running for city council in district 5. He sits down with Oz and the Comadres to discuss his plan and how he differs from the incumbent. He talks about his experience on the Measure G Citizens Oversight Committee and how he will use that knowledge to help the people of his district.

Steve McShane is the incumbent city council member in Salinas's 3rd district. He has represented his district for several years but still feels like he has work to do. Listen as he sits down to answer our questions and talks about his plans for his district. Oldtown Salinas is experiencing a renaissance, but how can the area help with the lack of affordable housing in the city? Listen as he sits down with the Comadres and Oz in the Salad Bytes hot seat.

Cary Swensen is running for City Council in Salinas' 3rd district. She sits down with the Comadres Frenchy and Samantha, who will be joined by Oz from Salinas Underground Podcast for this series to talk about why she decided to run and what makes her different from her opponent. She also tells us how her background in education gives her a different perspective on the issues that matter here in Salinas.

Your favorite Comadres are back on the mic. We have been MIA for a minute pero we had a few episodes hidden away in the vault. This week we are bringing out one of those episodes. We recorded this one back in March pero la vida pasa you know? Anyways, this week is all about Latinos in Literatura

According to a 2020 Stanford study Latinos are the largest growing group of entrepreneurs in the US. The Comadres Frenchy and Sam are joined by local business owner Marie Gonzalez of Todo Verde by Marie and Bruce and small business start-up consultant Jennifer Magaña of Jennifer Magaña and Associates LLC to talk about Latinas in business. We hear how Marie's business was born from need due to the pandemic and pivoting to pursue her passion project in the non-profit sector with Luna Creciente. We also get insight from Jennifer and hear about the importance of building the right team around you. Mujer, bet on yourself! You gotta be able to see the vision even when no one else can.

Your favorite Comadres are back in the Studio with guest Anthony Olivas doctor of chiropractic! Dr. Olivas is a Salinas native who tells us all about his journey into medicine. You know the Comadres have to sprinkle in a lot of laughter; I mean, the man blows out back for a living

Love is in the air for Dia de San Valentin and since we know better we DO better! This Valentine's the Comadres, Frenchy and Sam have some tips and tricks on how we can support our community and gente without contributing to waste and consumerism. Also, it's 2022 and Biden/Harris administration is still trash

New Year, New Episode! Your favorite Comadres welcome friend of the show Horacio Davila back with a new title, President and Founder of La Cantina Brewing Company! The homie was on the cusp of opening up his flagship brewery in our beloved Old Town Salinas when he visited The Comadres! As usual, he came bearing gifts of new craft brew con Cultura and brought along business partner Adrian Lopez and brewer Tito Hernandez to tell us the story of how this new brewery came to have their brick and mortar. Grab the new Horchata Stout and listen up to how important it is to surround yourself with people who believe in you and will speak your name into a room full of opportunities. Salud

Your favorite Comadres, Frenchy, and Sam are all about comunidad, and if we can have a good time while building community, then we are all in!! Esté episodio features Sonia Villalobos from Ballet Folclórico Aguila Real.

The Comadres Frenchy and Sam could not believe the amount of gente who didn't know that Día de Muertos isn't Mexican Halloween!! Like serio?!?

Are you afraid of the dark? Your Favorite Comadres, Frenchy, and Sam continue the October vibes with scary stories and Urban legends

It's officially Autumn. The leaves turn, and all things witchy, spooky, and pumpkin spice are on full display. Your favorite Comadres, Frenchy, and Sam are sharing their Día de Muertos Altar making knowledge. Listen up for all the details on the significance of the levels, the items that should always be present on your altar, and the representation of the four cardinal elements. Siempre vemos altares pero hoy se aprende cómo y porque se hacen. Grab a pumpkin spice latte and listen up!

It's officially Autumn. The leaves turn, and all things witchy, spooky, and pumpkin spice are on full display. Your favorite Comadres, Frenchy, and Sam are sharing their Día de Muertos Altar making knowledge. Listen up for all the details on the significance of the levels, the items that should always be present on your altar, and the representation of the four cardinal elements. Siempre vemos altares pero hoy se aprende cómo y porque se hacen. Grab a pumpkin spice latte and listen up!

The 831 Comadres Frenchy and Sam continue to keep busy scheduled both on and off the mic. And with such a positive listener reaction to the last "Comadres Catch Up," we decided to make it a thing. Join us as the Comadres Sam shares a small piece of her very personal journey con medicina de sapo

The National spotlight has been cast on our beloved City once again. This time for Salinas High school student AND staff participation in a blatant act of racism, anti-blackness, and white supremacy! Join the Comadres Frenchy and Sam as we share space with two beautiful and eloquent black community leaders. Tamisha Smith, a local educator, activist, and proud mother of black daughters, brings poignant and thought-provoking discussion. Charles Sanders, a father and religious leader, helps to dispel the absence black father myth. Let's open our ears to listen with compassion porque no nomas fueron blancos que participaron

This week's episode of 831 Comadres features a hometown Mujer putting in work!! Airam Coronado is a Program Leadership Assistant and trained Xinatchtli facilitator for MILPA collective in Salinas, Ca. She joins the Comadres Frenchy and Sam to talk about her very personal journey of being system impacted and how that lead to her work in the community. We also touch on the devastating loss of a community member, Gerardo Martinez Chaves. Who's life was taken by the hands of the Salinas Police Department on 7/16. Que descanse en paz siempre.

Join the Comadres Frenchy and Sam this week for a beautiful conversation with the first-ever artist in residence at Alísal Center for Fine Arts, Le Joe! Our talk lets us into Le Joe's world of intersectionality as he discusses his forthcoming exhibit scheduled for September. We also talk inspiration, que es un Artist in Residence anyways, y de donde vienen todo sus ideas para su arte. Grab your cafecito o cerveza per usual y tune in to another artist talk with your favorite Comadres!

Mutual Aid is described as voluntary exchange of resources and services for mutual Benefit. Simply of Service or S.O.S. does exactly that. The Comadres Frenchy and Sam are joined in studio by Ricky Camarena and Lisa Navarro of S.O.S. to discuss their recent trip to the Tijuana boarder. Along with their comrades from across the tri county area they collected donations and joined forces with San Diego based charity We Stand United to distribute them to asylum seekers at our southern boarder. With a first hand account of what they saw and heard this episode is sure to shed a new light on the fight that our brothers and sisters face at the hands a predatory government on BOTH sides!

Growing up, we all struggle with our identity and wonder if we are taking the right path in life. But imagine discovering your true identity if that of a transgender woman? Our guest this week went through that journey while helping raise her younger brother before she celebrated her 18th birthday. The Comadres Frenchy and Sam welcome Mirella Herrera to the show. She sits with us to talk about her transition, how she learned to be comfortable being her true self and how she learned to become a legendary make-up artist. Ya saben gente, grab your cerveza or cafecito and get ready to catch all this tea!

As with so many cultures, we as Raza often express love thru food. This week's guest takes it to another level. Sewa Yuli, or @mi_xacanito on IG, is a Food justice advocate and co-creator of Teo"Zine"Tli. Their Zine is "a humble ofrenda in honor of our precious seeds." The Comadres Frenchy and Sam check-in with Sewa from occupied Kumeyaay land. A.k.a San Diego, Ca, and get to hear about how a summer in Sonora Mexico

Who do you know that can handle working with youth in their community, has a security business, is opening up a tattoo shop, and manages to show up for our gente?? The Comadres Frenchy and Sam welcome the homegirl known as @Hrtlss1 on IG to the show. Checking in from Santa Ana, Southern California, we finally get to talk about the Unity Rally she held back in March for Street Vendors. This homegirl decided to use her platform to bring some light to the tragedies happening to our hard-working gente and hooked up with Brown Issues in the process. It only took 1 person to care for this event to come to life, and it turned out beautifully. Grab your cerveza or cafecito and tune in cause from NorCal all the way down to SoCal, we building bridges of unity ✊

Did you know that in all of the United States, there are only 15 lesbian bars? Even fewer spaces exist in Mexico, so where are all the queer enamoradas to go? Síguenos a Instagram donde dos mujeres poderosas viven su amor a todo dar en su pagina @QueerEnamoradas. Kim Guerra, creator of Brown Badass Y Bonita y Ana Sheila Victorino of Tamarindo Podcast, join the Comadres French y Sam desde CDMX. We had the pleasure of una platica about everything from being a face of Latinx lesbians, baptizando en iglesia siendo gay and photo shoots in Coyoacán. Nothing was off the table with these two amazing mujeres. So grab a beverage and listen til the end cause Kim gives the Comadres a huge exclusive about her book Mariposa!!!!

"Gay" /gā/ : meaning "joyful", "carefree", "bright and showy" The Comadres Frenchy and Sam continue celebrating Pride Month by acknowledging members from the LGBTQ2S+ community that we Stan! From writers to rappers, a hairdresser turned TV personality, a comedian, and even a bruja, some of our favorite people/personalities son gay. Members of LBGTQ2S+ take up space in all areas and aspects of the world, and the Comadres are all the way here for it! Having them show up as their authentic selves nos da mucha felicidad and we wanted to knowledge that. So grab your favorite drink and listen up as we talk about members of the community that make us feel súper gay.

It's Pride Month, and the Comadres Frenchy and Sam give a very Loud and Proud welcome to el Compa Reyes. Better known as Reyes de Oz or @NacoFace on socials, Reyes is an openly gay danzante. Y ya lo sé! A lot of you raised an eyebrow at that. Pero tune in and learn about Dual Spirit peoples. Porque in the ancient cultures, Mexica aka Aztec, dual spirits existed and were regarded within the community! We are dropping some knowledge, and it's us, so you know we had to get the tea also!! Reyes explains what "Jotería" en Mexico is like and how it differs from "Los Gays" in the U.S.

*Trigger Warning: conversations regarding depression & suicide* Lots of folks know Ernest aka Ness from The Beerded Bean fame. Others are aware that he is co-owner of OldTown Antiques and owner of The Rose Books and Obscurities. But few know the story prior to these successes. The Comadres Frenchy and Sam sit down with the Compa Ness and talk about how his hard-learned life lessons and intuition lead to these business ventures. The story includes a move to Sin City, finding a calling in business, fast cars, high-rise apartments, and beautiful women. We all know how this story goes...or do we?? Grab a cafecito or a cervezita and listen up to some comadreando.

Trigger Warning: conversations regarding eating disorders Body Positivity is talked about a lot these days. But beyond social media hashtags and buzz words of the moment, what does it really mean to embrace one's own body fully? In this episode, the Comadres, Frenchy & Sam, welcome Karissa to the show. This badass community activist shares how they had to overcome an eating disorder on their journey to embrace their body completely. We talk about unlearning the programming of the mainstream media's standard of beauty and also sex work. Tune in y listen up while Karissa explains how and why they stopped giving a damn about what society thinks, aka "unlearning," and started listening and loving their body instead!

Did you'll know El Más Chingon George Lopez reposted the Comadre Sam? Or that the Comadre Frenchy got her official swear-in date for The Brown Berets? This episode is the "Comadres Catch Up." With so much going down in their lives and the World, it's hard to cover it all. So your favorite Comadres decided to have a drink and chat about a little bit of everything. Grab a beer, a coffee, or a pajarete and tune in while the Comadres "comadrean"!

With hate crimes against the AAPI community on the rise, The Comadres, Frenchy and Sam, welcome Nick Musni in the studio to talk about the issue. While discussing the topic, our conversation reveals how interconnected the liberation struggle is between all minority peoples. Did you know that the great grape boycott of 1960 was a joint effort between Filipino and Mexican workers?? Tune in as the Compa Nick draws some significant parallels between the destabilization effects of American coups in Latin America and that of Asian countries.

Ever wonder what it's really like to do what everyone calls "The Work" of a spiritual awakening? Las Comadres, Frenchy and Sam, welcome guest Lisa Petty in the studio. Lisa talks to us about how her journey wasn't at all rainbows and butterflies. "The Work" can and will be deep and frighten. But it's also gratifying. Listen in as Lisa explains the power of meditation and manifestation and how it continues to help her through her awakening. She feels called to this work, and we feel inclined to listen!!

María Félix "La Doña" is an icon of Mexican cinema. But it was her powerhouse persona that made her the ultimate Chingona. The Comadres Frenchy and Sam pay tribe to this commanding figure by remembering her life and legacy. Tune in to this episode to learn all about "Maria Bonita." From the long list of unrequited lovers, she left in her wake to her lengthy film career and even the time que callo a un padre en plena misa!!

Arriba la mujeres!! Muy en especial a todas las madres. The Comadres Frenchy and Sam are celebrating Women's History Month by honoring the women that gave them life. This episode is all about mommas! If ever you wanted to know why these too mujeres are self-described "Chingonas," well, they get it from their mommas. Listen up as the Comadres give you a brief glimpse into the lives of their amazing moms!

The Comadre Frenchy is going from recruit to a full-fledged member for the Oakland Chapter of the Brown Berets in just a few short weeks. In honor of this life milestone, The Comadres and Frenchy and Sam take you through a short history of the Brown Berets. We team up with Oz from Salinas Underground Podcast for a hybrid episode of sorts. In honor of Black History Month, we discuss the Black Panther Party's influence on the Brown Berets, and Oz drops some major knowledge on important African Americans from the 831.

The Salinas Valley is known nationally as the Salad Bowl, but very few people know it's also a hidden gem of inspiration for artists. Join the Comadres Frenchy and Sam as they sit down with local artist Ariel Mar. From her humble beginning in the desert to her move to The Bowl and later her years in the L.A. art scene. Ariel gives a no-holds-barred interview, and of course, the Comadres are all the way here for it.

Do you know what your love language is? If you don’t have a clue, no te preocupes because Comadres Frenchy & Sam got you! They discuss the international, over 13 million copies sold, bestseller The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts written by El Señor Gary Chapman PhD. Las Comas go over each of the 5 amorcito idiomas; words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch alongside the meaning from the book and which language is primarily & secondary para Las Comadres. Have a sit with your cafecito or cervezita, and just like la légende de Walter Mercado would say, listen pero con mucho mucho..amor!

It has been one year of 831 Comadres, so Frenchy & Sam take a walk down memory lane. They overview each episode discussing how each one stood out to them, their firsts and favorites, and how much the show has grown. Not even COVID could stop these chingona mujeres from recording. But overcoming obstacles is par for the course in their hometown of Salinas. 2020 was just the start of something beautiful for this dynamic duo. Stay tuned for 2021 because these empowered ladies are just getting started and ain’t going nowhere!

When most people think of pregnancy and delivery, they associate it with pain. But The Comadres, Frenchy, and Sam are joined by 2 guests with a much different take. In this episode, Birth Workers, Nantzin and Eva join The Comadres to talk about pregnancy and labor and delivery. Having rooted their education in both western medicine and Indigenous teachings and practices, Nantzin and Eva offer birthing services ranging from doula work to midwifery home birthing options. Listen up, cause this is an episode con mucho amor for both las mamas y el bebé.

Did you know that the legend surrounding Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe has its roots in the Mexica/ Nahuatl culture? As a matter of fact, the earliest known written account of the legend is in the "Nican-Mopohua” and is written in the Nahuatl language! The Mexica, or "Aztecs," as the colonizer called them, have a long, rich history of the goddess Tonanzin, meaning "Our sacred mother." In fact, before the Spanish conquest, there was a temple in Tepeyac in honor of Tonanzin. The same hill in which the Virgin Mary appeared to Cuauhtlatoatzin (aka Juan Diego). The Comadres Frenchy and Samantha got on their research game, and we are here to share what we found. Grab a notepad and pen cause you might need to take notes to verify your abuelita or momma later. ****Warning we are not responsible for your loss of faith in Christianity due to listening to this episode.

Las Comadres, Frenchy & Samantha welcome photojournalist and 2020 CatchLight Local fellow David Rodriguez to the podcast. At the age of 21, David picked up his first camera and began capturing unique moments. A graduate of SFSU, David works as a multimedia journalist for The Californian. His current project plans explore the issues that disproportionately affect farm working families on the Central Coast. We sat down to talk about photos, familia, and fellowships.

The Comadres, Frenchy, and Samantha welcome Horacio Davila from La Cantina Brewing Company. And let us tell you, Horacio did not come to play! The Comadres got a gulp of nostalgia while tasting the 4 most popular beers he brews today. 1 2 3 Tamarindo, Guava Fresca, Ay Chavela, and the recently released Piñorita! Join us for a taste of culture as Horacio tells us how his company was formed and why/ how he comes up with his delicious flavor profiles. It's Mexican culture in a can! Grab a cold one (hopefully it's a La Cantina Beer) and join us to discuss business, sabor, and craft beers! Salud

Frenchy & Sam welcome Amrutha Prakasha, founder of Fundamentos, to the show. Amrutha, who comes from a family of teachers, started this tutoring program for kids on the East Side of Salinas to help them with any homework assignments or do yoga. Amrutha, take this job to heart to help kids with parents de los campos because her ancestors were farmers. As the daughter of immigrants, Amrutha knows personally about the struggles and difficulties these families encounter. Armed with that mentality, she created Fundamentos. Just like Las Comadres, Amrutha is a big believer in reinvesting good karma to each other and the comunidad.

There are 12 statewide propositions on the California 2020 ballot. Why are they important, you ask. Let the Comadres Frenchy and Sam break it down for you. We invited Watsonville resident and dedicated activist Jenny Sarmiento to help us discuss 4 of the Props that stand out to us on the ballot. A proud Latina with Bolivian roots, Jenny and your favorite comadres, comadrean y hablan política. So if you’re having a hard time understanding some of the Props, listen to this episode of 831 Comadres y apunta notas!

You’ve seen them all across the tri-county Area putting in work for our gente. But the Comadres, Frenchy, and Sam finally got the chance to sit down with all the founders of U.N.I.D.O.S. Christy Alfaro, Monica Aguilar, Rigo Avila, and Karina Ramires join us in the studio to talk about how their grassroots collective came to be. We also discuss their work and future projects. From marches to rallies, to protests, and everything in between, this group stays busy.

When comadres connect beautiful things happen. 831 Comadres, Frenchy and Samantha welcome fellow comadres Irene y Maria of The Campesinx Womb Care Project, to the show. Based out of Watsonville California these amazing Mujeres are preserving ancestral ways by practicing traditional medicine and honoring Womb carrying femmes. We talk about the humble beginnings of this beautiful project and the importance Irene and Maria feel as birth workers to provide services to this very underrepresented and oftentimes forgotten group. Due to the delicate nature of their work, The Comadres went full-on COVID protocol and we conducted the interview over the phone, a first for the show! For more information and ways to donate and help follow Maria and Irene on IG @Campesinxwombcare

In this episode of 831 Comadres, we have a chingona Latina, Carla Viviana Gonzalez, join in the studio. Carla is a community gem whose resume is ever-expanding. Ms. G, as her students affectionately call her at Alisal High, is a founding member of the Salinas Valley Ethnic Studies as well as Monterey County Solidarity Coalition, or @mcsc831. Only 26-years-old Carla is already paving the way for progressive leaders in Salinas, and her love and actions for her community speak volumes.

The Comadres, Frenchy and Samantha, took to the streets on July 3rd, 2020, alongside gente from across Monterey County for the Eastside to Seaside Solidarity March. The event which included a 14-mile march, Danza Azteca, a Dia de Muertos style altar to honor the lives lost to police violence and a plethora of amazing speakers, unfortunately, didn't go off without incident. We sit down Tamisha Smith and Julissa Reyes to talk about the details from the perspective of 4 powerful femmes that helped organize, contributed, marched, spoke, and lived this inspirational event.

If you listen to the podcast, you probably are already aware that the Comadres are huge fans of the talented earring maker Denise Armstrong of La Luna Designs. We fangirl for this amazing Mujer as she keeps it real and talks about some endeavors before founding La Luna Designs and the difficulties of keeping your business relevant. We also touch on the topic of group economics and the importance of supporting and uplifting small businesses in these tough economic times.

In this episode, Frenchy and Sam bring on guests Ariel Mar, Mariah Garcia, and for the first time in 831 Comadre history, we welcome our first compadre, Daniel Ibarra. These three are the Salinas organizers behind the " Eastside and Seaside Solidarity March" happening on Friday, July 3rd. We discuss how important it is to stick together during these times and how we can all pitch in to help build solidarity between Salinas and Seaside as we come together as one.

The Comadres, Frenchy and Samantha, welcome Andrea Rocha from Agents of Change to the show. This new coalition of Salinas residents has banded together to try and tackle some of the biggest problems our city faces. Most notably the current Salinas budget issue. Tune in with a pen and notepad because these 3 powerhouse Mujeres drop some major knowledge on how our city's funds are being spent.

If you didn’t already know where The Comadres stand on the issue of Police Brutality or about our solidarity and support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, you will after this episode. With an unapologetic “call like we see it” attitude Frenchy and Sam tackle the hard conversations afraid to be had by many. Offering up food for thought on ways to support BLM, action steps, and how we as a Latinx community have a duty to call out anti-blackness in our own lives. After the protesting ends, what can we do? Listen up cause The Comadres have some ideas.